Improvement in water-elevators



Nrren rats Parent trice.,

JAMES E. GRONK, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

INIPROVENI ENT IN WATER-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,82L, dated February 27, 1866.

To all whom it may co2/acera.:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. GRONK, of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Well-Curb 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitication, in which- Figure l represents a horizontal section of this invention, taken in the plane indicated by the line x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, the line y y, Fig. l, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ot' the crank detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists in the use of an adjustable crank, the stem or shank of which is provided with a nose or projection, in combination with one or more tappets on the end of the windlass-shaft, on which said crank turns loosely in such a manner that by turning the crank in one direction the nose can be made to come in contact with one of the tappets and to impart 'motion to the windlass-shaft, and by turning the crank in the opposite direction the nose releases'the tappet, and the windlassshai'tis free to revolve and -to let the bucket or other article suspended from its rope descend by its own inherent gravity. The motion of the descending bucket or other article is checked by a slotted bar, which oscillates on a pivot and is provided with a slot that catches over an eccentric wrist-pin secured in a disk which is connected to the windlass. vThe connection between this disk and windlass is effected by a ratchet-wheel and pawl, so that it does not interfere with th`e operation of raising the bucket.

A represents a well-curb, in which the windlass B has its bearings in the ordinary manner. This windlass is turned by means of a crank, C, which is placed loosely on it, and the stem or shank a of which is so arranged that it allows of turning the crank or handle parallel to the axis of the windlass or at right angles to the same. The stem a is provided with a nose, b, and when the crank4 is turned parallel to the axis of the windlass said nose 'catches behind a tappet, c, on the end ofthe windlass-shaft and compels the saine to revolve with the crank; but if the crank is turned at right angles to the axis ofthe windlassshai't the nose releases said tappet; and the windlass is allowed to rotate independent of the crank. A ratchet-wheel, d, which isvse- Ycured to the crank and engages with a pawl fastened to the side ofthe well-curb, prevents the crank being turned in the wrong direction and gives a chance to sustain the bucket at any desired point of its ascent as long as the nose of the crank is in gear with one of the tappets c. When the bucket or other article suspended from the rope has been raised to the desired height and emptied, it can be made to descend simply by turning the crank so as to disengage the nose b from the tappet c.

In order to check the velocity of the descending bucket a slotted bar, D, i's applied. This bar oscillates on a pivot, f, in its lower end, (though it might he placed in any desirable position,) and its upper or loose end is provided with a slot, g, which straddles an eccentric wrist-pin secured in the face of a disk, 'a'. VThis disk is mounted on the windlass-shaft, being connected to it by a ratchet-wheel, j, and pawl 7c, so that said disk is compelled to revolve with the windlass in the directionof the arrow marked thereon in Fig. 2, but if the windlass is turned in the opposite direction the disk may remain stationary. The weight and stroke of the bar are so gaged that by their action the motion of the descending bucket is checked and a self-acting brake is obtained, which prevents injury to the bucket even if the windlass is operated by the most careless or unskillful person. By having the disk detached from the windlass the bar is prevented from interfering in 'f any way with the operation of winding up the bucket. The flanges l, between which the rope winds, are placed loose on the shaft, so that they are free to adjust themselves according to' the quantity of rope to be taken between them.

It is obvious that these improvements are applicable to a windlass of any desired description, although they are particularly intended for well-curbs.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent- 1. The revolving crank mounted ou a, stem a. detachable or adjustable crank, substanwhich is provided with a. nose, in combination tial] y as aud'for the purpose described.

with one or more te )pets ou the Windlass or on its sha-ft,constru 13ted and operatingsub- JAMES E' (JRONK stantia'lly as and for the purpose set forth. Vituesses:

2. The slotted bar D, applied iu combinw GEORGE W. REED, tion Wit-h a Windlass which is provided with l DAVID CLARK. 

